Fours Head 2015

7th November 2015

The 2016 OUWBC squad took to the tideway waters for some gritty racing last weekend at the Fullers Head of the River Fours.

OUWBC took a team of 14 athletes, competing in a Women’s IM1 quad and two IM1 coxed fours. All crews tackled tricky conditions of strong blustering winds, intermittent and sometimes horizontal rain, and the heavy stream of the infamous River Thames.

The quad, made up of President Maddy Badcott, Elo Luik, Chloe Farrar and returning Blue Lauren Kedar, took on the battle with Leander Club to finish just 0.2 seconds off the pennant winning position. Both crews were an impressive 16 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. OUWBC had two coxed fours entered into the Women’s IM1 category.

The coxed four of Joanne Jansen, Ruth Siddorn, Kate Erickson and Emma Spruce, coxed by Morgan Baynham-Williams, saw another exciting race for OUW, finishing second to Thames Rowing Club by 2.2 seconds.

The second IM1 four made up of Emma Lukasiewicz, Isabell Von Loga, Issy Dodds, Georgie Daniell and cox Antonia Stutter, finished in a strong fourth position, missing out on third by a mere 1.2 seconds. Newcomer Kate Erickson commented, “this was my first time racing at Fours Head – the weather certainly made it an exciting debut! I really enjoyed the unpredictable nature of the conditions on the tideway and was so thankful for the experience. I’m excited to use my race performance here as a platform to build from as the season progresses”.

Undoubtedly, with the competitive nature of these women there are elements of disappointment to have finished second in both events. However, it is not without lessons that we continue to strive for excellence. A day of excitement, challenge and lessons learnt, the Oxford University Women are ready for more.